The Brotherhood of St Andrew is the oldest organised ministry of the Episcopal Church (USA). It was founded in Chicago in 1883 with the aim of ministering to men and young people in the Episcopal Church, the Anglican communion, and beyond.

In the aftermath of World War II, the Brotherhood felt called to minister in Japan, Korea and the Philippines. In Japan, a lay missionary named Paul Rusch had been working since 1925, when he came with the YMCA to support reconstruction efforts after the Great Kantō earthquake. Through contacts in the Episcopal Church, he went on to teach Economics at Rikkyo University, and he would bring students to the mountains for summer camps. Camp Seisen Ryo, an Anglican youth mission centre, was established in 1938.

Following Japan’s entry into the War, Rusch was arrested and detained at a prison camp until deported to the USA as part of a prisoner exchange in 1942. He returned to Japan immediately on the cessation of hostilities and in 1946 took responsibility for the Kiyosato Educational Experiment Project (KEEP), a retreat house and nature centre based on Camp Seisen Ryo. The KEEP experimental farm would go on to introduce highland dairy agriculture into Japan.

Rusch was determined that there should be a church for the community, and the ground-breaking ceremony for the Chapel of St Andrew was held on 28 September 1947. The church was designed by American/Japanese architect Yoshio Iwanaga, with a tower of local stone acting as a focal point for a plan that would include the church, accommodation for the priest, and in due course a public health clinic. It was the first of a number of post-War “experiments in rural evangelism” devised and funded by the Brotherhood of St Andrew.

Paul Rusch remained in Japan for the rest of his life, dedicating himself to youth education, post-war reconciliation and rural development in that country. He died in 1979, and is widely revered in the local community, and in the national church.​When two parishioners from St Mary Magdalene’s spent an extended time in Japan some years ago, they were warmly welcomed by the congregation of St Andrew’s. A sister parish relationship has been established, and we rejoice in a reciprocal sharing of prayerful support for our respective ministries.